Page 33 of Destined To Fall

“It was a cow, but let’s pretend it was a pig. I’m famished.”

“No horses.”

“Horses?”

“It’s what finally killed that poor old lady. I kinda like you breathing.”

“It’s because it makes my breasts move, isn’t it?”

“You have breasts?”

I laugh and pull Jeremy through to the back where a couple just vacated their spot, snagging the only table in the joint before someone else does.

“This place is something else,” he says, taking it all in as we sit. All seven-odd tables of it.

“It is. It’s small but never stops. This is kind of quiet, so you’re in luck. I never get a table this quickly normally.”

“I can see that. So, what’s good to eat here?”

“Everything,” I say in unison with the waitress as she appears beside us to clear the table.“The omelets are the best, though I always seem to order the bennie, with a side of extra bacon,of course.”

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

“Two eggs bennie with a side of extra bacon? Anything to drink?” the waitress asks.

“Latte, two sugars, please,” I say.

“Same, but no sugar. I’m sweet enough.”

I scoff at that, making our waitress chuckle.“Comin’right up.”

“You don’t find me sweet?”

“Sickly so. Now, tell me how you banged all your ex-ho’s friends and set me straight,” I tease.

Jeremy laughs and shakes his head.

We fall into easy chatter after that, somehowsteeringthe topic off work, family, or anything else of real value. Instead, we eat and talk more about BU—which is where Luke and Jeremy actually became friends—and how we had almost identical schedules but years apart. Not surprising considering I’m almost five years older than he is, which I confess to Jeremy’s bemusement. The professors are a big topic, especially Dr. Miller. We both had her for Ethics, and she made our lives a living hell.

“Oh, god. There was this one time Laura—my best friend—and I came to class late. We may or may not have been hung over.” I titter.“Okay, so we were probably still drunk.”

Jeremy shakes his head, smiling.“Why does that not surprise me?”

“Yeah, yeah. I was a menace to society. So anyway, there she was, reaming us out in front of theentireclass, when someone yells,‘She’s gonna hurl.’”

“Oh my god, you didn’t?”

“I totally did. All over her ugly damn shoes.”

Jeremy tips his head back and laughs, the sound rippling through me, raising the tiny hairs on my arms.

“It was the best, and worst, moment of my life. I was on gum duty, of all fucking things, like it’s eighth grade all over again, for a week!”

He grins widely.“She was so medieval. You got off light, though.”

“I really did.” I smile, gesturing to our waitress for the check.

“Vivienne, don’t even think about paying.”

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